Four Trials

by John Auchard and John Reid Edwards

Book Overview

Raised in a small town by parents employed in the local mills, John Edwards worked in those mills himself -- and then went on to become one of America's most successful and respected attorneys. He built a national reputation representing people whose lives had been shattered by corporate recklessness and grievous medical negligence. In landmark cases, Edwards helped people from all walks of life stand up for themselves against tremendous odds. Four...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743272048
• ISBN13: 9780743272049
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Now I understand

As a nurse, the thought of a trial lawyer has caused me to come out in hives or more than one occasion, but I would be lying through my teeth if I didn't admit that mistakes with horrendous sequelae do sometimes happen. That said, do not genuinely hurt people have a right to financial compensation for the wrong they have sufferred? If it were my child who was born with cerebral palsy and I later found out that it could have been prevented had appropriate care standards been followed; you better believe I would be suing, and as a nurse, I would expect to be held responsible for my actions if I were involved in such a case. Frivolous lawsuits aside, there are many other suits with merit that never come to the trial stage. It has become fashionable to blame "frivolous" lawsuits on the high cost of healthcare. Perhaps, if we really paid attention to the mistake statistics in our health care facilities, we would understand that the real way to solve these problems is to improve processes so that actual errors become fewer. Should we deny injured people the result to financial compensation for a lifetime of pain and suffering because we are worried about the companies and people who messed up? How fair would that be? We're sorry but you can no longer sue for lost wages and all the special equipment you now need just to get by because we're trying to cut back on frivolous lawsuits! Give me a break!! D. Allison should go back and read the book again and ask herself if she genuinely feels that these particular cases had no merit and that John Edward's sole motivation in bringing them to trial was self gain. The child who was eviscerated over some screws that were not deemed important by a company deserved every penny she received. Sure, Mr Edwards made money, but I don't think any of us would do what we do for free.

Four Trials

If you are looking for a candidate's standard election year political manifesto you won't find it here. What you will find is a can't put down page-turner. Sen. Edwards makes no political pronouncements or promises in this book. He has simply written deeply moving accounts of four notable cases he litigated before he became a national political figure. This book rivals anything John Grisham has to offer and what makes these stories so compelling is that they are about real events and real people. Interwoven throughout the book, Edwards gives us glimpses of his own personal story; his blue-collar upbringing, his rise from a young unpolished attorney to a highly successful trial lawyer, and sadly, the tragic death of his own teenage son. The reader will also discover much about the ins-and-outs of our legal system. If you think of personal injury lawsuits as frivolous pursuits by ambulance chasing lawyers this book may just change your mind. Each of the four cases is about deceit and truth, tragedy and triumph, and each is heartbreaking as well as heartwarming. It is encouraging to find that in the end, at least in these cases, righteousness and justice prevails.

Compassionate Integrity

Senator Edwards first caught my attention this winter as a different sort of politician. Instead of the usual rancor, I saw a positive, visionary sort of campaign. I was intrigued. Wanting to know more about the man behind the campaigner, I purchased Four Trials. After reading through this brief biography and account of four key civil cases in his career, I am even more impressed by John Edwards as a man and as a leader for the future of our country (in whatever branch of government he serves). The book is a good read and a refreshing contrast to the "compassionate conservative" lie that exists in Washington todayThe four cases Edwards highlight illustrate his core philosophy of the need to protect average, hard-working Americans from the greed and avarice of an unrestricted and unmonitored Corporate America. If I were to paraphrase this message of this book, I would say, "Free Enterprise has made this country great, but it can never come at the cost of running over the most precious assets we have, the lives, the hope and the dreams of our citizens."Senator Edward's run for the Presidency may be done for now, but I am certain we haven't heard the last of this plain-talking man from North Carolina.

A great book and a riviting read

This book would give John Grisham a run for his money - the fact these are not fictional trial stories make them truly gripping. The character of the writer comes through vividly as Edwards describes each case's background and how he approached his work. Edwards masterfully interspersed vignettes of his own life without a heavy hand. I was not prepared for the power of this book and simply couldn't put it down. How fortunate we are to have John Edwards as a candidate for President this year -- I definitely plan to vote for him and truly hope we get this man of character and integrity in the White House.

A Great Read

As other reviews have noted, this is not your typical political type book. This book barely even mentions politics. If you're looking for John Edwards views on various policy, you'll have to do some homework elsewhere.I would put this book up there with any great legal novel. The only difference is that the stories are real. I just love this book. Edwards neatly divides up the book into the four trials, each covering 40 to 50 pages. Intertwined with the storytelling of these trials is a brief biography of him and his family. The four trials he discusses are fascinating. They deal with various individuals who have been wronged and how he helped use the legal system to assist them. The book was a real "page-turner" for me. You can easily read a chapter a day and be done within a week.After reading this book, I've come to greatly admire John Edwards the man. I'm a Democrat and had not decided who to vote for in the primary. I am sure I will be voting for Edwards now. (Assuming he is still in the race.) I only hope others will do the same. I think he will make a fine President.